Tuna Fever

I don't know anything about tuna fishing. But I do know one thing: the boys get their panties all tied up in a knot in excitement over it. Lately, the radio has been abuzz with tuna sightings.

A few large lobsterboats in the harbors are sporting mighty rods that jut high above the roof of the wheelhouse. I get a rush just looking at the rods and imaging a fish large enough to cause a rod that size to arch under tension as it swims and fights. Just the other day a young fisherman on the Peninsula caught a decent-sized fish. Hope is contagious after one is caught so close to home.

"Iris L. You on this one, Stew?"

"Go ahead," my ex-boyfriend's great-uncle responds.

"Just spotted some little 'uns off the north end of the Middle Grounds."

"Thanks. I'll check it out."

I was amazing to hear a hint of excitement in his voice. His characteristic grumpy grumble lifts at the mention of tuna, making him sounds 20 years younger.

Cap has all of the equipment to go tuna fishing, but he doesn't feel that it's worth burning the fuel. He explained to me that the Japanese have flooded the market such that only very good-quality fish that are worthy of the sushi market are valuable enough to make it worth your effort. Apparently, fish of this caliber are quite rare around here. But a few of the guys are game for the adventure of it. All fishing is a gamble and they probably figure why not gamble on something exciting?

Lobstering isn't all that exciting at the moment. The shedders are trickling in, but haven't arrived in full force yet. At this point it's a waiting game. It's wise to keep the traps baited so that we know when they hit. But we aren't making money yet and the shedder price has dropped already, which is a bit discouraging for everyone.

But even if I can't experience it for myself, it's neat to hear about it on the radio all day. Tuna fever keeps us entertained through a redundant day of hauling near-empty traps.